November 1st – Also in Kings Hill, a character I see a fair bit, this elderly black and white puss with no teeth. Gummy and grumpy, he’s actually a charming chap when you catch him in a good mood. Today, he was startled by workmen on the Chapel renovation and their grinder, so he wasn’t feeling accommodating, and yowled at me to stop it.
It’s totally unacceptable when your daytime activities are disturbed by workmen.
October 18th – Another lovely golden hour, this time as I came through Walsall Wood and the Black Cock Bridge. The sun reflected off the golden leaves beautifully and rendered the farmhouse precious.
As the sun receded further, the skies were dramatic over Clayhanger, too.
The sunsets at this time of year are fantastic.
October 3rd – Spinning through north Walsall on the way home, I was held up by this little thing peering up the road. Tiny, but with enough cute for several litters of kittens, she was apparently waiting for her owner who she’d spotted up the road.
The joy at the reunited pals, separated by a day at work, was beautiful and infectious.
A gorgeous little young cat, brimming with charm and life.
September 8th – People keep grumbling about all the cats. Sorry, but I adore them.
The characters that appear in the warmer days of summer – loafing, watching, patrolling and generally taking the air include in their number the more elderly of the local feline population, and I find them quite charming.
Usually dozing, washing or lazing, these characters have done all their rushing around, and are generally too comfortable to run off when you stop to say hello.
There’s often a world of experience in their manner, features and battle scars.
I’m never too busy to stop and offer an ear-tickle.
August 30th – Something in the climate of this day was perfect for the cats of North Walsall. They lazed in the shade of cars and lamp-posts, relaxed, just watching their world go by, making sure all was in order and nothing was untoward.
It’s nice to know they were on guard, these sunshine sentries of suburbia.
August 14th – A fast paced run-out to Middleton Hall, via Chasewater and Fazeley was very pleasant on a warm but overcast afternoon. Again, it was really about the curiosities; the cats by the canal in Brownhills, one alert and stately, the other clearly furious to be awoken from an afternoon nap. The wee dog at Middleton Hall that waited patiently for his owners to finish their tea. The remarkable scarecrow at Mile Oak.
I had more energy today, and the wind had died. A great afternoon ride.
August 7th – There were three in total, but ginger scarpered. Judging by their lanky, adolescent appearances, I think they were siblings, and I spotted them as they dashed over the road near Red Hill. They’d clearly been investigating the horses in the field, and been scared, and now there was this guy on a mechanical contraption pointing something at them.
These cats are clearly characters, and living in the quiet backlanes of Longdon, they have acres and acres of woodland, hedgerow, pasture and ditch to explore.
What a life they have before them.
July 12th – I’ve spotted this apparently elderly lady before in central Walsall, near the college. She has a broken tail and a limp but she seems alert, active and very sharp on her feet.
She hasn’t previously hung about to have her photo taken, and today, as I pulled up gently on my bike, she gave me 20 seconds before she decided to up sticks and run off, glaring at me.
This is a cat with attitude…
June 21st – On the way to work, a short drama. In Biirchills, just near the flats, two familiars square off. There is not outright hostility; but much ground-standing and unwavering stance. This was clearly a pair of old adversaries, neither giving ground, butt with a kind of mutual respect.
Sadly, someone appeared and they both scarpered before I could take a close up of the black cat, but they were both lovely; particularly the stocky, older looking ginger cat who seemed like he was half teddy-bear.
I get the feeling this show plays itself out several times a week.
June 2nd – A summer sentry watched my progress through their neighbourhood today. Sat watching the world go by in Walsall, this lovely, shiny coated black cat watched me carefully, making sure both I and the bike were in order. Satisfied I was just passing through, it posed for a photo while watching more interesting things back up the street.
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